The Three Garden Beds

June 1 / 2026, was the last class lessons for the session. We will take break for July and August, new session will start on September. I started my first class lessons last November at DPW group, five lessons in total by now. Although I am eager to attend classes, I am also concerned about causing too much trouble for family members involved, but my daughter is worrying about my depression, she thinks the Ikebana will help me and lift up my spirits, so she made a schedule who’s taking care of dad and who’s driving mom, so I could go to ikebana class. I am no longer so easily saddened and tearful since I have started taking antidepressants, but it makes me low energy, headache, withdrawal and fatigue. To gain my strength, I have a caretaker come to take care of my husband few times a week to give me a break. I also hired a landscaper to make three small garden beds, one I enlarged the existing front yard, one in a front left side yard and one in backyard. So, I can do some gardening work and etc…

Enlarge the front yard

Front yard 

Front yard 

Close view of the front yard 

Left side front yard 

Back yard 

June Class Lesson (3) - Dried, Bleached, Colored Materials

This subject was no problem for me! I had collected a few dried materials, but finding a suitable container was a little challenging. Here was my arrangement which I made with dried Cycas Sago Palm (蘇鉄) and bark. The Protea Pincushion was provided. 

The pictures below were gradually turned into what it’s now. 

The final version 

Less is more, one palm only 

Sensei wanted me to make palm higher

Tried at home 

June Class Lesson (2) - Massed Expression

Three elements “Line, Color, and Mass”. The third element is Mass. I had a hard time finding a container I’d like to use; I also like to bring my own beautiful peonies to be part of it. (6/1/2026)

I like this arrangement by classmate

Tried it at home, mugo pine and peonies 

June Class Lesson (1) - Combined Styles

Variation No.8 Moribana and Nageire combined style. The completed arrangement with their own individual beauty combined to create a whole new composition. (6/1/2026)

Materials: mums provided, the lilac branches cut from my back yard. 

Workshop - Floating Sense and Balance (3)

This was the first day’s (May 19) workshop “Floating Sense and Balance.” Everyone got the same materials, but used their own container. I always bring two different kinds of containers. I decide which one to use after seeing Sensei’s demonstration. I was delighted that I received a nice critique from the master instructor Reito Oizumi.

I didn’t attend May 20th’s workshop. For me to go to Ikebana class or other events like this involves many family members! Because my husband needs someone to watch him and I need someone to drive me to the places. My children know how important it is for me to continue practicing my beloved Ikebana; it also helps me temporarily relieve my stress and depression from taking care of my husband!

The last one - Cherry Blossom (2)

This was the last piece of arrangement! It’s a big and beautiful piece of work! She looks young and very graceful! I like all of her arrangements, very impressive and well done!

Sogetsu Demonstrations by Master Instructor Reito Oizumi (1)

Ikebana International New York Chapter #7 on its 70th anniversary held a special meeting to celebrate on May 19-20, 2026 at the Opus Westchester, White Plains, New York. The chapter invited Ms. Reito Oizumi to present demonstrations and workshops. “She is an award winning practitioner and exhibits internationally. She approaches Ikebana as a deeply personal form of expression.”

Oizumi Sensei demonstrated ten pieces of arrangements: here were the nine arrangements. 

The DPW May Class Lessons - (1)

Our May class lessons were held on May 8, 2026, three subjects as usual. Thinking of all the materials I need for the class makes me really miss my old garden. I was glad the class would provide materials for us to use, a little bit challenging for me but I liked it this time. 

May class lessons: 1) - With Branches Only or A Two- Step Approach (for advanced students)

A two steps approach, the branches are featured in this
widely spreading horizontally composition 

Pink dogwood branch from my yard 

Straight Line (2)

The class provided horsetail for straight line material, I didn’t use it, I used forsythia instead. Unfortunately, I didn’t transplant the horsetail plant here, I have a lot of them in my old house garden! They are invasive plants.

My original design 

In class, Sensei changed the position of the
Aspidistra to the bottom 

Sensei’s demo using horsetail 

Focusing on the Uses of Water (3)

I used the big martini glass as a container of this subject. Showing the water is another means of expression! I salute all the mothers on Mother’s Day through this arrangement!  (cymbidium, white flower and Asparagus provided, my green vine is bittersweet)